Should You Use a Travel Agent or Book Online?

Travel agents can save you a lot of hassles — and get you some great deals. But they don’t always offer the best prices. | iStock.com/m-imagephotography

The internet has turned would-be vacationers into their own travel agents. Sites, such as Kayak and Expedia, and an entire app store’s worth of travel apps, enable travelers to book flights, cruises, and hotel rooms with ease. Travel agents — once a necessity to get to some far-off destination — often get cut out of the picture.

But, for those of you who don’t want to spend time planning your vacation, travel agents could be a great option. Your trip will just cost a little bit more. (According to the American Society of Travel Agents, the average service fee for booking airline tickets in 2009 was around $20, while the fee for booking a cruise was $50. And Angie’s List reports the fee for a travel agent to build an entire itinerary ranges from $100 to $200.) So, should you book through a travel agent or online? Read on to learn the pros and cons of each approach.

Want great deals? Consider booking with a travel agent

When you work with a travel agent, you can get the best deals without having to scour the web for them yourself. | iStock.com

Travel agents not only help you plan your vacation, but they can act as your vacation advocate. They’ll find you the best prices. And if something bad happens — such as a canceled flight or a missed connection — they’ll help clean up the mess. USA Today’s Tracy Morris explains, “Online booking will show you the prices of tickets at the moment, but prices may change daily.”

When you book with a travel agent, you won’t have to check your booking site of choice every day, searching for deals. The travel agent will do the dirty work for you and help you get the best deal without wasting all of that time.

Don’t want to figure out all the details? Travel agents can help

Not a details person? Travel agents can get everything set up, so all you need to do is show up at the airport. | iStock.com/encrier

Furthermore, travel agents take all of the stress out of vacations. Imagine not having to worry about arranging travel, hotels, meals, and excursions. You can get what you want without having to coordinate all of the details yourself. That can end up saving you a lot of time.

In fact, some studies indicate that travelers spend 30 hours researching and preparing for a trip. And many visit up to 38 sites before actually making a reservation. Have you ever gone down the rabbit hole comparing flights? Or poring over photos of hotels? How about debating over sightseeing options? Or even second-guessing your choice of destination altogether? Travel agents make a career out of easing your planning pain.

Want to stress less about your trip? Book through a travel agent

Don’t want to stress about your trip? Get a travel agent to plan it. | iStock.com/Halfpoint

U.S. News argues it pays to book with a travel agent because a pro can eliminate the stress of vetting the countless options out there. They can also ensure you find the best option — and save money on your booking. In fact, U.S. News estimates you can save anywhere from $500 to $1,000 on airfare if you have the right agent. That can eliminate a major source of stress for budget-conscious travelers.

Plus, USA Today points out a travel agent can offer insight a website just won’t provide. “An agent can guide an inexperienced traveler through foreign travel or travel to exotic destinations. While the Internet may be bursting with websites and bookings in technologically advanced areas, agents may have more knowledge of travel in areas where tourism is less developed,” the publication explains.

Travel agents can think of things you won’t

Your travel agent won’t be there to remind you to pack your phone charger or remember the sunscreen. But travel agents can help head off other travel predicaments. Angie’s List notes though novice travelers might not know all the rules, “a travel agent has seen it all before. Some cruise ships don’t allow babies or children, so you don’t want to show up with the kids in tow.”

A travel agent can also give you a heads-up on exchange rates. They can advise you on when (and where) you’ll run into the worst crowds. Plus, they can remind you about what you should wear when traveling to conservative countries or religious sites. And it’s their job to know everything about travel visas, necessary vaccinations, etiquette, and the restrictions associated with your reservations.

Don’t book with a travel agent if they can’t be flexible

Can you stay flexible about when and where you travel? You might want to book your trip yourself, instead of relying on a travel agent. | iStock.com

On the other hand, you might want to avoid booking with a travel agent if they can’t be flexible about your plans. Woman’s Day reports that staying flexible about your travel plans can cut costs. That’s the same reason why many seasoned travelers advise comparing flights on multiple dates (and in and out of a variety of airports) to see where you can get the best prices.

But not all travel agents will suggest looking at alternate dates, times, or destinations. The reason why? Your savings might mean a smaller commission for them. Want to be your own travel agent? Woman’s Day has some advice. “Visit sites like Fly.com and Kayak.com, plug in dates you’re willing to travel and airports you’re willing to depart from and arrive in and you just may spend less than you thought you would on your vacation.”

Your travel agent might not be able to book you on your favorite airline

We all have our favorite airlines. But travel agents can’t always book you on your airline of choice. | iStock.com

Another reason to keep an open mind if you work with travel agents? They might not be able to book the airline you usually use. That means you might not be able to use or earn miles or benefit from your status with the airline you fly most frequently.

Woman’s Day explains, “Travel agents are required to have an International Air Transport Association (IATA) or Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) number to book airlines through their booking source, which gives them direct access to the airline’s inventory. However, not all airlines (such as Southwest and a few other smaller, regional carriers) are on these booking engines.”

Another thing to keep in mind? Because travel agents work on commission, they might not have ever used the hotel or cruise ship they recommend to you. Most people assume when travel agents recommend Hotel A over Hotel B, it’s because they have experience with both and genuinely think you’ll have a better experience at Hotel A. But that’s not always the case.

In fact, your travel agent might get some perks or a prize if they sell enough reservations at Hotel A. Of course, they probably wouldn’t recommend the hotel if it weren’t a good property. But you don’t want to forget that travel agents often have incentives to influence your travel plans in specific ways. You aren’t always getting a firsthand recommendation from an experienced traveler.

You don’t need to book through a travel agent to get a good cancellation policy

Don’t think travel agents offer better cancellation policies than online engines. Woman’s Day explains, “In the not-so-distant past, online booking engines didn’t issue refunds, so travel agents were the way to go if you were concerned you’d have to cancel your trip. Now, online travel sites offer money back even if airfare drops.”

Your travel agent probably won’t tell you that (of course). Just know if you do your research — and check out cancellation and refund policies — you’ll probably get just as much peace of mind booking online as you could when booking through a travel agent.

Still not sure whether you should book with a travel agent? Be realistic about prices

The Chicago Tribune reports you should never make assumptions about the cost of booking through a travel agent versus making a reservation without one. “Contrary to popular belief, a travel agent won’t always cost more. In fact, it’s possible you will pay less than booking a vacation yourself because agents might be aware of promotional offers and occasionally have access to exclusive deals,”the publication explains.

Some agents charge a per-hour fee when they’re planning a trip, and agents can earn commission on some of their bookings. Plus, the Tribune reports that “agencies might charge $25 to $30 to book a domestic flight, $50 to $80 to book a vacation to a single destination and about $100 per hour for research and planning advice.” But, you can typically expect a travel agent to cost around the same as if you’d booked it yourself. When you factor in the time it saves you, travel agents might be worth the cost.

Know travel agents probably won’t be able to match rock-bottom prices

Most travel agents can’t match the rock-bottom prices you can seek out online. | iStock.com/romrodinka

Ultimately, whether you should book through travel agents or online depends on how you like to plan — and on how you like to travel. But the Chicago Tribune makes an interesting point for budget-conscious travelers who like to scour the web for rock-bottom prices on their flights and hotel reservations.

“Even with their expertise, travel agents might not get you the same rock-bottom prices ultra frugal consumers might get if they’re willing to spend the time and assume the risk of blindly bidding on airfares, hotels and car rentals at such online sites as Priceline.com,” the Tribune says.

Do you want to spend hours searching for the very best prices available? Great! That’s a good way to save money. Just don’t expect a travel agent will have the time — or patience — to do the same.